India SUV Sales Drop in July

First Fall in Sales Since October 2011, Biggest After May 2009

By

Santanu Choudhury

Aug. 12, 2013 6:20 a.m. ET

NEW DELHI—Sales of sport-utility vehicles in India fell in July for the first time in nearly two years, as a recent increase in factory tax affected demand in a segment that was the lone bright spot in the country's sluggish passenger-vehicle market.

Sales fell 17.5% from a year earlier in July to 37,010 vehicles, according to data issued Monday by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. That was the first drop in sales since...